Chapter 12: The Spark Catches Fire

The morning sunlight poured through the tall, windows of the Blackwood estate, creating golden patterns on the shiny marble floor. The mansion was alive with the quiet footsteps of maids and the faint sounds of breakfast being prepared, yet Mara felt a heavy unease in her chest.

She couldn’t stop thinking about her encounter with Damon from last night. She remembered how his gaze softened for a brief moment before turning cold again, the words she said to him and the unspoken words left between them. There was something in his eyes that seemed deeper than just arrogance or obsession.

“Mrs. Blackwood,” a maid interrupted her thoughts, offering her a silver tray with a cup of tea. “Would you like me to run your bath?”

Mara nodded absentmindedly. “Yes… Thank you.”

As the maid disappeared, Mara’s eyes drifted toward the west wing of the mansion. The area Damon had specifically told her not to go. Curiosity nagged at her. Why was that door always locked? What made Damon so tense whenever she even walked near it?

Later that afternoon, Damon came home from his business meeting. He is a CEO after all. He wore a sleek black suit that perfectly fit his strong frame, his tie slightly loosened, and his presence was as commanding as ever. Mara watched him from the staircase, her heart fluttering again in that annoying way.

He glanced up, his lips curving into a knowing smirk. “Spying on your husband already?”

Mara’s cheeks flushed. “I wasn’t spying. I just… heard you come in.”

She thought he wouldn’t speak to her after what happened last night.

Damon’s footsteps echoed as he walked closer, his presence strong as he stood right in front of her. He leaned down slightly, speaking in a soft voice just for her.

“Good. Because you should always know when I’m near, Mara. I want your eyes on me.”

Her pulse raced, but she quickly looked away. “You’re impossible.”

Damon let out a light chuckle, but his gaze darkened for a moment. “ And you’re too curious for your own good. Stay away from places I’ve warned you about.”

The warning was clear, yet Mara’s curiosity only grew stronger.

That night, unable to resist, she found herself sneaking down the west corridor. The hallway was darker, colder, and far too quiet compared to the rest of the house. Her steps echoed faintly against the floor as she approached the heavy door she’d seen before—the one bound by thick metal chains.

Her hand trembled as she reached out to touch the cold iron links. This door wasn’t just locked; it felt like something truly dangerous was being kept inside.

Before she could think further, a deep voice cut through the silence.

“Mara.”

She froze and turned slowly to see Damon standing at the end of the hallway. His expression was hard to read, and his eyes looked like cold metal as he walked closer.

“What did I tell you about this place?” His voice was harsh lace with anger.

Mara’s breath caught, but she lifted her chin, refusing to back down. “What are you hiding here, Damon? Why lock this place away like it’s… like it’s some kind of secret dungeon?”

Damon stopped just a inches from her, his presence suffocating. He reached out, gripping her chin firmly but not harshly, forcing her to look into his eyes.

“You’re my wife,” he said quietly. “And I will give you everything, but not this. Not yet. Some doors, Mara, are better left closed.”

“ I’m not your wife. I’m your contracted w—”

“Be it a contract marriage or not . My goal is to protect you.”

Her heart pounded at the intensity in his gaze. This wasn’t just a warning. he was protecting her from something.

But Mara was sure of one thing: whatever Damon was keeping behind that locked door was the key to everything he wasn’t telling her.

And she was going to find out.